To the editor,
I am a former resident and high school and Rainy River Community College graduate of International Falls.
I have very fond memories of my childhood/youth and I am a faithful subscriber to The Journal in order to keep my connection with the north country. I am currently the elementary school principal and teacher in a small rural K-8 school (Sweet Briar Elementary School) just west of Mandan, ND. My husband and I live with our children on the family farm in Almont, N.D.
In the Oct. 31 edition of The Journal, there was a paid article on page 13 of section B entitled: “Common sense says to vote yes on the Marriage Amendment.”
Regardless of how you voted on that amendment, you need to know that the person who wrote that article does not live in Almont, nor is there an organization called “Concern for Children” in our community.
It is an unknown and unregistered organization in North Dakota. You also need to know that the address that was used in the “signature” portion of the article is an empty church building in Almont that has no pastor and no congregation. It is a vacant address owned by an absentee individual. It was used solely as a vehicle to disseminate this radical information.
Our Evangelical Lutheran Church of America pastor in Almont has received numerous calls from ELCA pastors in Minnesota regarding this issue. The ND attorney general has been contacted and a complaint has been filed with the Consumer Protection Agency for falsifying an organization and address.
I felt that you needed to know the facts of the matter. I also believe that if someone has that strong an opinion about something, they should have enough courage to sign their name to it.
Sherilyn (Jonson) Johnson, Almont, ND
